Café Society

Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively star in Woody Allen's latest comedy about a young New Yorker who, after moving to Hollywood in the 1930s, falls for the secretary of his powerful uncle, an agent to the stars.

Comment

That standout to me in this film was Kristen Stewart. In this movie it's clear to me that if she hasn't matured as an actress she is at the very least maturing. She was a pleasure to watch. Also good in this was Steve Carrell. A good movie with regular Allen pathos.

Jesse Eisenberg doing his impression of Woody Allen for two hours, or however long this film was, was just too much for me to take. I don't know if it's just that Eisenberg is just so overexposed, and I'm sick to death of seeing him play the same character in every movie he does, or what, but this was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Couldn't finish the thing, and that's really a rarity for me.

Other than the conclusion, I enjoyed the latest Woody Allen. I was mostly engaged with it because of the cast who are fine actors, especially Steve Carell. That being said, my husband hated it, couldn't stand it, found it choppy and dull, and ultimately couldn't find anything redeeming in it. I was disappointed with the ending and unsure of what the message was supposed to be, but I enjoyed the time period, the visuals, and the mood. I liked our protagonist very much, but again, the film is flawed. Still, soaking up the surroundings filled me with a kind of buoyancy. And even if it only lasted ninety or so minutes, that was worth it for me. As for recommending it, it's a bit tricky. If you're already a dyed-in-the-wool Woody Allen fan, you'll be fine, but otherwise, I would start with something classic, like ANNIE HALL and then progress onto his later work.

Woody Allen takes a look back at Hollywood in the 1930’s and gives us his impression of the great Hollywood actors, agents, producers, etc. and how they socialize with one another. Seniors might be mildly amused when the characters talk about the actors of the golden age. Look for the mildly cloaked allusion to Woody’s relationship to his current wife.

Quotes

At dusk, the hills of Hollywood, light barrier often beautifully saturated Technicolor tones. The homes of the stars, late 30s, was said to sumptuous, were. At cocktail parties and dinners, the upper crust of the film world chained drinks, peddled rumors, doing business and exchanged gossip. No feast of the Most Hollywood was successful without Phil Stern, an all-powerful agent, and his lovely wife, Karen.
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Two weeks later, a taxi from the train station stopped in Hollywood before the Ali Baba Motel. Pulled out a young man full of hope to build his life: Robert Jacob Dorfman. Bobby Dorfman, du Bronx,
away from home for the first time. Son of a poor jeweler, Marty Dorfman, and his whiny wife, Rose,
quarreling about everything, especially about Phil Stern.
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... Evelyn, the teacher, married to Leonard, the nerd, the teacher, the Communist. "Religion is the opium of the people."
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You married a musician?
-A stock broker.
You divorced.
-It's him. My best friend was better in bed

On older men and young women:
Then Errol present her little starlet. Irene asks her if her daughter. As dry, Errol looks at her and says:
"Not. This is my granddaughter."
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She is much younger than me.
-So what? Regardless, if there is love.
I am consumed with guilt towards Karen, who has never disappointed me. She is bright, cheerful, faithful. It worked well in bed. Very good. But with the other, it's fantastic!
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I would like to know his new wife.
-Not you, Martin?
Not really. You know what I think of your brother. It is not Jewish, this man! What kind of man sold off his wife after 25 years to fall in love with a secretary 25 years?
-Unfortunately, many men choose their secretary.
Bobby says she is superb.
-The physical is not everything! And righteousness? And faithfulness? You're not a Miss but I stayed.
You drank enough.
-Love is an emotion. The emotions are not rational. We "fall" in love.

Dear Bobby, It's raining today. Very nice, but a little melancholy. Leonard sees the poignancy of life:
accept that it has no meaning, and even rejoice in that absence of meaning. Beats me, but mom summed it by saying: "Live each day as the last. One day it will be."
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Yes, I loved you and I loved Phil. I was with him for a year and a half and you were ... left but adorable, manic, young, romantic, a little lost.
-Next to a large man. It was hard.
Our future was uncertain, I do not want to lose you.
-I thought if your career is not taking off, you'd like me and would be unhappy.
How to know? I never stopped thinking about you. Not a single day.
-I always dream of you. More...
I am the wife of Phil. It is wonderful to me, he loves me, he messed up his life for me. I am loyal to him.
-Yet you dream of me.
You're happily married, you have a child.
-You said it.

First assassin. And now, Christian. What have I done to deserve this? What's worse? There you explained.
-The Jews have no life after death.
We all fear of death. But it does not abandon the religion that we were born.
-I'm not afraid to die.
You're too stupid to understand what it means.
-I'm not saying that I like the idea.
And I repulse death with all my strength. But when the Angel of Death will take my last breath, I will go. I complain. I swear. You hear me ? I will go complaining to me.
Whose? You will do what, idiot? A letter to the Times?
-I will complain of silence. Because all my life I prayed tirelessly and I never got an answer!
What are you talking about? No answer is also an answer.
-It's stupid that Judaism does not offer life after death. They would have a lot more customers.

Was Woody thinking about his women past and present?:
Life is a comedy written by an author sadistic. I loved you and you married my uncle, what makes you ... my aunt. Tante Vonnie. I still have a crush on you, Vonnie aunt.
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Happy New Year my love.
-With you, every year is new and happier.
Thank you, that's really sweet. What are you thinking about ?
-In anything, all is well.
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I thought of the relentless nature of time. Socrates said: "An unexamined life is not worth living." But when examined, it is no picnic.
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Indulge your secret.
-Our secret ?
Tell them.
-We have common interests, like the same movies, and children. ... Those of others.
Here!
Time flies, a new stage in this bewildering journey to where?
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Each time... it stirs emotions. I start to dream ... You too, no doubt. And dreams ... remain dreams.
Some feelings never die.